Thinking of getting a Kindle, Can I really get library books for it?

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by sunseeker

After reading this entire thread I see people have figured out how to get around Kindle's software to borrow books from the library. My apologies for being behind the curve although technically my answer is correct. People always find workarounds. Personally, although I wanted the Kindle originally for many reasons, I am very, very happy with my Nook Color. I don't have to strip DRM or whatever one does to borrow books from the library. We are blessed to have a library that embraces technology. Thus far I've been able to get all the books I want to read although there may be a short wait for some of the newest books. I think I am a touch pad person because I've been using the iPhone for quite a while. Recently I read a book that had pictures embedded in the pages. The pages were clear and the pictures that were in color of course show on the screen in color. I LOVE IT!

welcome to the forums. you will find when responding to an older post that you get a message notifying you that it is indeed an older post, and when discussing things that are technology based, the forum has generally moved on

[JSWolf]

If you do not strip DRM and convert formats, the answer to Kindle and library eBooks is NO.

[GoSharks]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If you do not strip DRM and convert formats, the answer to Kindle and library eBooks is NO.

And if you spend twenty minutes on the net, the answer is YES.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by GoSharks

And if you spend twenty minutes on the net, the answer is YES.

But for most people, the answer is no.

[GoSharks]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But for most people, the answer is no.

You must be slipping JSWolf, you forgot your usual plug for the Sony PRS-650....oops, sorry, it was earlier in the thread. Alas, no matter how repugnant you find it and how many times you say it isn't so, library books can be read on the Kindle with very little effort. Whether people are comfortable doing it is an entirely different question.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by GoSharks

You must be slipping JSWolf, you forgot your usual plug for the Sony PRS-650....oops, sorry, it was earlier in the thread. Alas, no matter how repugnant you find it and how many times you say it isn't so, library books can be read on the Kindle with very little effort. Whether people are comfortable doing it is an entirely different question.

I know stripping DRM and converting is pretty easy. But a lot of people do not know they can do it. They don't know how to do it. And they don't want to do it. They just want to download, put on the reader and read. So for them, a Kindle is the wrong choice for library ePub.

Think of the majority of older adults. They won't be doing the DRM stripping and converting just to get library eBooks on a Kindle. This is not a Kindle vs Sony debate. I just feel that for most people out there that want access to library eBooks who do not deal with DRM & conversion, the Kindle is not a good fit.

For most of us on MR, it's not an issue. And yes, it is easy and fast enough to do. But we are not like most people who do not strip & convert.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I know stripping DRM and converting is pretty easy. But a lot of people do not know they can do it. They don't know how to do it. And they don't want to do it. They just want to download, put on the reader and read. So for them, a Kindle is the wrong choice for library ePub.

Think of the majority of older adults. They won't be doing the DRM stripping and converting just to get library eBooks on a Kindle. This is not a Kindle vs Sony debate. I just feel that for most people out there that want access to library eBooks who do not deal with DRM & conversion, the Kindle is not a good fit.

For most of us on MR, it's not an issue. And yes, it is easy and fast enough to do. But we are not like most people who do not strip & convert.

and it is still disingenuous to give a flat "NO" answer when people ask if it is possible. it is not up to you to interpret their skills or interest.

I find it best to let individual device users answer questions regarding the devices that they own and use everyday. I would never dream of answering Sony questions. I think there are now enough Kindle users that we can handle the Kindle forum quite nicely

[Barty]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

and it is still disingenuous to give a flat "NO" answer when people ask if it is possible. it is not up to you to interpret their skills or interest.

I find it best to let individual device users answer questions regarding the devices that they own and use everyday. I would never dream of answering Sony questions. I think there are now enough Kindle users that we can handle the Kindle forum quite nicely

I am a kindle owner and I would say it's equally disingenuous to say it's easy or trivial to read library books on kindle. First, the technical hurdles. Then, the legality and ethics.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Barty

I am a kindle owner and I would say it's equally disingenuous to say it's easy or trivial to read library books on kindle. First, the technical hurdles. Then, the legality and ethics.

Do you really think it is unethical to read a library ebook that you borrowed on the device of your choice?

BOb

[GoSharks]

Originally Posted by Barty

I am a kindle owner and I would say it's equally disingenuous to say it's easy or trivial to read library books on kindle. First, the technical hurdles. Then, the legality and ethics.

I would have to disagree. It is not technically difficult to get library books onto a Kindle. If someone is technically savy enough to negotiate their way to the library web page, search for a book, then down load it, I don't think it is at all beyond their abilities to do a drm/conversion and load it onto their Kindle (no matter their age, JSWolf!!). The ethics of this are personal, and since this is an international forum, I think the legality is difficult to presume.
While it is certainly fair to discuss all of these aspects, I agree with KindleKitten that a flat "NO" is inappropriate.
If we can agree to disagree on the 'trivial' concept, I'm buying !!

[JSWolf]

Yes you an strip the DRM, yes you can convert the ePub. Yes you can use the mobi directly with the DRM stripped.

But if you don't strip DRM and/or convert then the answer is no, the Kindle cannoe handle library eBooks.

My mother has a friend who has some version Kindle and her friend asked about library eBooks. Given that she doesn't know about DRM, stripping, converting and doesn't have someone to do it, the answer is no. This is not uncommon. People buy a Kindle and then find out about library eBooks and find out they cannot take advantage of them.

I know most people here are tech savvy enough to figure this out, but there are a lot more people out there who are not tech savvy enough to do this and so the answer for them is no.

And out of the box, the answer is still no.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

and it is still disingenuous to give a flat "NO" answer when people ask if it is possible. it is not up to you to interpret their skills or interest.

I find it best to let individual device users answer questions regarding the devices that they own and use everyday. I would never dream of answering Sony questions. I think there are now enough Kindle users that we can handle the Kindle forum quite nicely

I don't have to own a Kindle to know about stripping DRM from AZW and you don't have to own a Sony to know about stripping DRM from ePub.

[GoSharks]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

People buy a Kindle and then find out about library eBooks and find out they cannot take advantage of them.

And then there are people (like me) that buy a Kindle NOT expecting to be able to utilize their library's e-books, and are thrilled when they discover that they can.... So, rather than saying a simple 'no', which is incorrect, why not just say it is possible but requires some technical skills that may make it too difficult for some people....and then allow people to decide on their own whether they have the necessary skills.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by GoSharks

And then there are people (like me) that buy a Kindle NOT expecting to be able to utilize their library's e-books, and are thrilled when they discover that they can.... So, rather than saying a simple 'no', which is incorrect, why not just say it is possible but requires some technical skills that may make it too difficult for some people....and then allow people to decide on their own whether they have the necessary skills.

Out of the box, the answer is no. I know it's possible to strip the DRM and convert if needed. But as I keep saying, for most people, the answer is no.

[StickMaker]

Well, Bam451, I've downloaded a whole raft of FREE books; there are so many available that I made a list on my website.